After a scoreless first quarter, Bryant didn’t come back into the Lakers’ game in Indiana on Friday night because of his sprained left ankle.

Bryant missed all four of his shots and has lost his man, Lance Stephenson, time after time at the other end early in the game as he struggled to move on defense. During the second quarter while on the bench, Bryant was asked something by assistant coach Chuck Person, and Bryant responded: “I can’t go.”

“I just couldn’t move,” Bryant said afterward. “It’s really as simple as that. It just continued to swell and continue to get tight, and more pain, and I couldn’t put any pressure on it.”

Bryant still helped from the bench, coaching Dwight Howard on post play and all the Lakers on pick-and-roll defense, among other topics. Bryant also argued successfully with the referees that the Bankers Life Fieldhouse clock operator started the time early on the Lakers’ final possession of the first half.

The Lakers’ next game is Sunday night at home against Sacramento, and Bryant didn’t offer a guess yet whether he would play – half-joking that he would just continue to coach.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said about Bryant next game: “He’ll have the final say if the trainers clear him.”

Bryant managed to multi-task in the second half Friday night, bringing an electric stimulation unit out to help his ankle while also munching on almonds and advising teammates.

Bryant’s effort to play was appreciated by his teammates also. Said Howard, who cheered when Bryant was introduced with the Lakers’ starters: “He tried.”

About Bryant’s coaching, Steve Nash said: “He was engaged. He wanted us to win. He had a lot of energy.”

GASOL BACK MONDAY?

Pau Gasol was in good spirits after another comfortable workout Friday as his recovery from a torn plantar fascia in his right foot continued. D’Antoni pegged Monday in Phoenix as the likely return for Gasol.

Gasol was noncommital about when he would play again, but D’Antoni said Gasol would be back in his familiar roles starting and finishing games for the Lakers sooner or later.

“He’s going to be a starter at some point, and he’s going to be a big part of what we do,” said D’Antoni, who might ease Gasol back into prominence depending on his conditioning.

D’Antoni said Tuesday that Gasol brings enough other qualities that he could finish games even though the Lakers have had success spreading the floor with perimeter shooters to go with Bryant-Howard pick-and-roll formations late in games. D’Antoni said it would be harder to use that alignment with Gasol, who isn’t much of a 3-point shooter, but the “general plan” is for Gasol to finish games also.

Gasol has made clear he prefers starting. D’Antoni has been using Earl Clark as the starting power forward for added athleticism and mobility, but Clark has been increasingly inconsistent and is ceding key minutes to Antawn Jamison.

D’Antoni said it’s possible Gasol could return Sunday night vs. Sacramento, but the Kings are just 6-28 on the road. Gasol is expected to work out again Sunday, and unless he decides he really feels ready to play, he’ll play Monday in Phoenix, where the Suns are 15-17 this season.

The Lakers then have three days off for Gasol to recover before playing Washington on March 22. Gasol tore the plantar fascia in the Lakers’ victory in Brooklyn on Feb. 5.

NASH BRUISED

In the Lakers’ first road game of the season, Nash took a hit to his left leg from the opposing point guard, had to leave, saw the Lakers lose and sat out seven weeks because of a broken leg.

Things are looking better for the Lakers now.

Nash took a hit to his right leg Friday night from the opposing point guard, stayed in the game, helped the Lakers win and was optimistic that it was only a bruise to his calf.

“I got kneed in the third quarter, and it kind of balled up and swelled up on me,” Nash said. “Let’s hope on the plane ride home it can stay under control; it kind of popped out a little bit.”

Nash got hurt fouling Indiana’s George Hill and got treatment from physical therapist Judy Seto on the bench during breaks in the game. He still delivered in the fourth quarter, scoring six points with four assists and no turnovers in eight minutes.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Nash said. “I’ll take that over something worse.”

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